Investigations reveal what caused Samburu helicopter crash
Investigations reveal what caused Samburu helicopter crash
Investigators have found that the helicopter that crashed at Mount Ololokwe in Samburu County struck a rock near the mountain’s summit before plunging down the slope.
According to a preliminary report, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Department (AAID) said the accident occurred at about 9:13am on August 19 after the pilot reportedly made a manoeuvre near the mountain to facilitate sightseeing and photography.
“Upon arrival at Mount Ololokwe, the helicopter conducted a low-level flight along the cliff face, apparently to facilitate sightseeing and photography. During a subsequent manoeuvre involving a climb above the ridgeline followed by a 180-degree left turn down the steep slope, the helicopter’s landing-gear skid struck a protruding rock formation near the summit,” the report stated.
The Airbus EC130 B4, operated by Lady Lori (Kenya) Ltd, a helicopter charter company, was carrying pilot Josh Outram and six passengers, including former Ecuadorian intelligence chief Michele Sensi Contugi, his wife Stephany Holihan, Telemundo executive José Alberto Suárez, Miami entrepreneur Roger Edward Duarte, Adam Hlavaty and Henry Parra.
The group had flown to Mt Ololokwe, where the passengers were scheduled to have breakfast at the summit.
Flight tracking showed the helicopter flying close to the cliff face before turning back and beginning a 180-degree turn down the mountain.
During the turn, one of the helicopter’s landing skids hit a rock sticking out near the top of the mountain.
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The impact broke off the landing gear and caused the helicopter to lose stability before it rolled down the steep slope and went over a cliff.
The wreckage landed about 1,196 feet below the point where the rock was struck and was later badly damaged by fire, leaving all people on board dead.
“The impact resulted in the shearing and separation of the landing-gear assembly, with portions of the skids remaining at the initial point of contact. Following the impact, the fuselage and remaining aircraft structure descended uncontrollably down the steep mountainside and over the cliff precipice, coming to rest approximately 1,196 ft from the initial point of impact at the base of the cliff,” the AAID observed.
The preliminary report found that visibility was clear and winds were light at the time, with no indication that bad weather caused the accident.
Investigators also found that the helicopter had a valid airworthiness certificate and its maintenance records did not show any known mechanical problems.
The report said the helicopter had no flight recorder, while its other data systems were badly damaged by the fire, leaving flight-tracking information as the main source used to piece together what happened.
AAID clarified that the findings are preliminary and should not be treated as a final determination of blame or liability, with the main objective of identifying facts and preventing similar accidents in the future.
“The sole objective of the investigation of an accident or incident under these Regulations shall be the prevention of accidents and incidents. It shall not be the purpose of such an investigation to apportion blame or liability,” the report noted.
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